Anamnestic response to a thymus-independent antigen, TNP-LPS in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice: dominance of the IgG secondary response of the C57BL/6 mice in the F1 hybrids.

The primary and secondary immune responses to a thymus-independent antigen, TNP-LPS, were investigated in C57BL/6, DBA/2 and (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 mice. While there is no evidence that TNP-LPS induces immunological memory in DBA/2 mice, a definite priming effect has been observed in C57BL/6 mice. Memory is revealed by the appearrance of antibody-forming cells of the IgG isotype. The differentiation of B micron precursors into B gamma memory cells is a dominant phenotype, since it is also found in the F1 C57BL/6 x DBA/2 hybrids.